Ignition mechanism.



Patented Sept. 3,1918- INVENTOR gwll/r [or/ma ATTORNEY UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CONRAD, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

Specification 'of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 29,1914, Serial No. 879,477. Renewed March 6,1918. SeriaINo. 220,882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK CONRAD, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in IgnitionMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ignition mechanisms, and particularly to unitarystructures in which are embodied the several ignition devices thatconstitute the ignition systems of internal combustion engines.

My invention has for its object to provide a mechanism of the characterindicated above in which the usual separate devices of an ignitionsystem are combined in a simple. manner, to form a compact unitarymechanism.

When the several functions of an ignition system are performed byseparate devices, it is necessary to employ a large number of conductorsto interconnect their respective terminals. Since the electricalconnections employed in the electrical systems-of internal combustionengines, or of motor vehicles, are subjected to severe vibration, it ishighly desirable that the number of conductors should be reduced to aminimum.

According to the present invention, I combine the usual induction coil,interrupter, condenser and distributer in a unitary I mechanism. Theelectrical connections between the several devices, which are completedat the place of manufacture, are all within a protecting casing and aremuch more substantial in character than is possible in ignition systemsas usually constructed. Derangement of the system because of groundedconductors, loose connections, and similar causes is thereby avoided. A-.mechanism constructed :as above described may be easily and qu cklyinstalled, thereby efiecting a considerable saving in time and labor.

In the acompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view,in longitudinal section,of an 1gnition mechanism constructed in accord ance with my invention.Figs. 2, 3' and 4 are views, in transverse section, on the lines IIIIIIIIII and IVIV, respectively,

of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View of circuits and apparatusemployed in connection with my invention. v

An ignition mechanism 1 comprises a rotatable shaft 2, which may beoperatively connected to an engine shaft in any suitable manner, and acasing 3 that is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2. The mechanism furthercomprises an interrupter 4:, a condenser 5, an induction coi)l 6 and adistributer 7, all of which are inclosed within the casing 3.

vAs illustrated in Fig. 1, the casing 3 comprises three detachablyconnected parts 3, 3 and 3 which are mounted in axial alinement. Thelower part 3*, which is of cast iron, or other suitable material, isrotatably mounted on the shaft 2. mediate part 3*, which is ofinsulating ma terial, is secured to the part 3 and supported thereby.The upper part 3 is also of insulating material and forms a part of thecircuit-controlling mechanism to be later described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the interrupter 4, which islocated in the lower portion of the casing, comprises a cam disk 8 thatis provided with projections 9 corresponding in number to the cylindersof the engine with which it is associated. A pivotally mounted lever '10is provided, at an intermediate portion, with a block member 11 to beengaged by the projections 9 on the disk 8, when the shaft 2 rotates.The lever 10 carries, at its outer end, a contact member 12 which coactswith w Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

The intercomposed of laminations 18 of substantially L-shape. Theupright portions of the laminations are assembled in the form of ahollow cylinder whichsurrounds the shaft 2 and is coaxial with it. Thebase portions of the laminations extend radially outwardly from the axisof the coil, as shown in Fig. 4, to form a portion of the magneticcircuit of the coil. The provision of the laminated core structurearranged in the manner described insures that the magnetic circuit ofthe coils 15 and 16" does not include any closed ring of conductingmaterial in which eddy currents may be produced. The upper and lowerportions of the induction coil are respectively inclosed by flangeddisks 19 of insulating material. That portion of the casing whichsurrounds the induction coil is composed of suitable insulatingmaterial.

The distributer mechanism 7 comprises a rotatable arm 20 that isdetachably connected to the shaft 2, for rotation therewith,- by apin21. The arm 20 comprises a counterweight portion 22 for counteractingthe centrifugal force of the working end of the brush which, in theusual construction, is entirely unbalanced. The arm 20 carries, at theother end, apair of brushes 23 which are pressed outwardly in oppositedirections by a spring 24. The brushes 23 and the spring 24 are inclosedby a tubular member '25 of conducting material.

The lower brush 23 is in constant engagement with an annular contactmember 26 which is connected to the secondary winding of the inductioncoil. The upper brush 23 successively engages the several contact pieces27 that are located in the end of the upper part 3 of the casing. Thelatter con-- stitutes a removable cover for the distributer mechanism.The cover 3 is normally re- ;tained in position by a pair of springclips 29, only one of which is shown. A safety spark gap is formed bythe pin 21, which is grounded to the shaft 2, and a conductor 30 whichis connected to thebrushes 23 by means of the tube 25.

The electrical connections of the various parts are diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 5. Since a single-wire system is employed, the onlyexternal electrical connect ons necessary for use with the ignitionmechanism are a conductor for connecting the contact terminal 31 to asuitable source of current and conductors for connecting the severalcontact segments 27 of the distributer to the corresponding spark plugs32 of the internal combustion engine, in a usual and well known manner.All other connections are completed at the time of assemblin the deviceand are withinthe casing 3.-

T e operation of the mechanism corresponds to that of systems embodyingseparate devices. When the shaft 2 rotates, the

interrupter cam disk 8, actuatesthe lever'lO to separate-the'contactmembers 12 and 13 and thereby break a circuit comprising a storagebattery, or other suitable source of current, the contact members 12 and13 and the primary winding 15. A high electronic tive force "isgenerated in the secondary circuit which comprises the secondary winding16, the distributer. 7 and the'spark plug 32 Y entire ignitionmechanism, with the exception of the shaft 2, the cam disk 8 and thedistributer arm 20. The adjustment of the ignition mechanism accordinglycauses the operation of the interrupter and the distributer to occurearlier or later in the engine stroke, according to the direction inwhich it is adjusted.

Iclaim as my invention: 1. In an ignition mechanism, the-co1nbi nationwith an induction coil having a tubillar core member, of a rotatableshaft within said core member, and an interrupter and a distributeroperatively connected to said shaft and located in alinement with, butwithout the plane of, said coil.

2. In anignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coilhavinga tubular core member, of a rotatable shaft within said coremember, an interrupter and a distributer operatively connected to saidshaft and located at opposite ends and without I the plane of said coil,and an inclosing casing for said mechanism rotatably mounted on saidshaft.

3.-In an ignition mechanism, the combi nation with a rotatable shaft, aninterrupter and a distributer operatively connected to said shaft, of aninduction coil between said interrupter and said distributer andsurrounding said shaft, and a casing for inclosing said mechanismrotatably mounted on said shaft.

4. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coil, anda casing therefor, of an interrupter and a distributer within saidcasing, the stationary members of saidinterrupter and saidd1str1buter'being secured to said casing and the movable members of.said devices being rotatable without the plane of said coil, and arotatable shaft within said coil for actuating the movable membersof'said interrupter and said distributer.

5; In an ignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coilhaving atubular eore member, and a casing therefor, of a rotatable shaftwithin said core member, and a distributer brush having a counter-/weight carried by said shift.

I, 6. In an ignitlon mechanism, the combi The actuation nation With'aninduction coil havinga tubular opening and a rotatable shaft extendingtherethrough, of a distributer brush'carried by said shaft, an inclosingcasing-having. a removable cover member provided with contact membersfor coacting with said distributer brush, and means for adjusting theangular position of said casing.

7. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with an induction coilhaving a tubu lar core member comprising substantially L-shapedlaminations, of a rotatable shaft extending through said core member, aninterrupter cam on said shaft, a 'distributer brush rotatable With saidshaft, an inclosing casing rotatably mounted on said shaft, andcomprising a cover member, circuit controlling mechanism connected tosaid casing for coacting with said cam and meanscarried by said covermember for coacting with said brush.

8. In an ignition device, a unitary mechanism comprising a singleinclosing casing, a rotatable shaft for rotatably supporting saidcasing, primary and secondary circuit-controlling mechanisms adjacent tothe ends of said casing and operatively connected to said shaft, aninduction coil Within said casing between said circuit-controllingmecha: nisms and surrounding said shaft, a condenser in said casing, andmeans for rotatably adjusting said casing.

9. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a rotatable shaft, anda relatively stationary contact member, of an arm having acounterweighted portion secured to said shaft and a contact member onsaid arm for coacting with said stationary contact member. 10. In anignition mechanism, the combination with a rotatable shaft, and a casingparts, a condenser in an end part, a circuitcontrolling mechanism Withinthe other end part, and means for actuating said circuit controllingmechanism.

12. In an ignition mechanism, the combination with a casing membercomprising a plurality of detachably connected parts of annular shapemounted in axial alinement, an induction coil Within one of said parts,an interrupter and acondenser in a second of said parts at substantiallydiametrically opposite portions thereof, a distributer in a third ofsaid parts, and means extending through all of said casing parts foractuating said interrupter and said distributer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th dayof Dec.

, FRANK CONRAD.

Witnesses:

WM. M. BRADSHAW, B. B. Hmns.

